21-year-old held for kidnapping, killing employer in Mahim

A 21-year-old man was arrested by the Deonar police on Sunday for first kidnapping, then murdering his employer.

The police are looking for two accomplices in the case.

According to the police, Mohammad Jahir Ibrisi, 27, who ran a garment business with his two brothers, had been reported missing from his Govandi home since February 7.

“The victim’s elder brother received a call the next day from an unidentified person, who demanded ransom of Rs. 8 lakh. The kidnapper never spoke to the victim’s family thereafter. A complaint of kidnapping was filed in this regard and investigation started,” said Pralhad Panaskar, senior police inspector from the Deonar police station.

After eliminating the suspects, the police closed in on one of Ibrisi’s employees, Musafarali Mashukali, 21, alias Sikandar whose antecedents and movement raised suspicion.

After being on his trail for two days, the police were successful in apprehending Sikandar on Sunday. During questioning, Sikandar broke down and revealed that he had killed Ibrisi, police said. “Sikandar hatched the conspiracy with two of his friends, also labourers working on the same field. During the interrogation, Sikandar told us he and his friends killed Ibrisi late on February 7,” said Panaskar.

Sikandar told the police that after kidnapping Ibrisi, he gave him a tablet that rendered him semi-conscious. “He was then strangulated. The trio threw his body in the Mahim creek. We have recovered it,” said Panaskar.

The police said prima facie investigations have revealed that the intention was to collect ransom from the family. “Sikandar took Ibrisi to Mahim saying he would show him places to start a garment manufacturing unit. He made the ransom call and later panicked, fearing his name would be revealed. It was then that he decided to kill him,” said Panaskar.

Police are interrogating Sikandar to find why he wanted the money and also the whereabouts of his two absconding accomplices.